Please read this information and policy list carefully. All users are expected to abide by the policies.

There are 16 Dell Optiplex 755 or similar computers in the Chemistry Computer Lab, which actually occupies Reichardt 170 and 172, networked to server computers (Uafchem5 and Uafchem7) located in another room. (Reichardt 163 is no longer a computer lab.) Each workstation runs Windows XP with Internet Explorer 8 as the (only) web browser. Use UAF's Webmail to access your email account. The operating system of each workstation has been modified with security features designed to minimize maintenance and to provide a consistent user interface. Therefore certain features of Windows XP that you might see on your home computer will not be available in the computer lab. Rooms 172 and 170 are to remain locked except during normal working hours M-F 8-5, and most evenings.

The computers in 170 have a priority for 100-level students, although they may also be used by other chemistry students. The computers in 172 have a priority for students in 200-600 level courses who pay a $45 computer fee each semester.

Peripherals. All computers have sound cards with earphone plugs (either on the back of the cpu or with an extension plug near the top of the machine). USB connectors on side of flat-panel monitor. Scanners are connected to Station50 in 172 and Station46 in 170. Printers (see below).

Application software available on all workstations is listed below, along with a link to a Web site offering further information concerning the program:

Lab hours. Room 172 is accessible (using the door combination) 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, except for occasional maintenance closures, or dedicated class instructions, which will be announced ahead of time if possible. The building doors generally are closed nightly at about 11 pm. If you are working past 11 pm, security officers are likely to ask you for identification. 

User accounts. All students enrolled in any 200-600 level chemistry class are charged a $45/semester computer lab fee. This entitles you to a user account each semester. Obtain a user name, logon password, and room combination information from your professor. Do Not Share the Combination or Your Password with Friends or Relatives!  Warning: Undergraduate accounts and folders on the server are erased each May after final exams.

Passwords may be changed by starting the Windows Security window with Crtl-Alt-Delete keystroke. The new password may contain any combination of letters or numbers that is 6-14 characters long. The best password is a compound nonsense word that is easy to remember, like FishBat or toPcaT. Change Passwords IS case sensitive. ***Do not share your password***.

Priorities for use of these computers are: 1. Chemistry assignments, 2. Other homework, 3. Non-academic Web browsing or email. No games, chat sessions, or commercial activities are allowed on these computers. If all the computers are in use, and you have homework to do, then you have the right to ask an emailer or Web browser-er to vacate the machine. At certain times, the System Administrator may need to commandeer a workstation for maintenance.

Logging on. Hit Ctrl-Alt-Delete to bring up the logon screen. Type your user name, tab to the next box, enter your password, make sure the logon is to "Chemistry" and not "This computer", then hit Enter. Proper capitalization is required in the password, but not in the username. When you are finished, Log off. Click Start, Log Off KellerJ, Yes. NB: If you make 6 unsuccessful attempts to enter your password, you will be locked out for 30 minutes. This policy is designed to prevent cracking of passwords. Do not change computer settings. Do not delete programs, install programs, or run programs that are not already installed. These computers will block attempts to change the desktop, but you may add, remove, or rearrange items on the desktop and in the Start, Programs menu.

When you log on, a connection is automatically made to \Public on 'Uafchem5' (Drive Y:) folder, which will be visible in Windows Explorer. This is a folder on Uafchem5 that is accessible to all logged on users for transferring of files between users. This is for temporary storage only: (almost) anyone can and will delete folders and files from here. 

My Documents. This folder appearing at the top of the left panel of Windows Explorer is linked to a network folder. Right-click and click Properties to verify its location. You may store data files, pictures, etc there. Editing files there is possible, although it may be significantly slower, and less reliable (even a brief loss of network connectivity will crash the application and lose the data...).

Data files on workstations (for example C:\Temp) are ERASED regularly. Once you have saved copies of your work to My Documents and/or on USB drive, clean up the C:\Temp folder of the workstation yourself. If you delete a file by dragging to the Recycle Bin, it can still be recovered by anyone who opens the Recycle Bin and moves the file back out.

Food/music. No food or drink in the lab. If you must listen to music, do so with headphones or ear buds only.

Printing. Each workstation can print to one of several physical printers: in 172, an HP 4300 B&W laser and HP 4650 Color LaserJet; in 170 an HP 4100TN LaserJet; or other Laserjets in 242, 245, and 246 Reichardt. From within your application hitting the Print button on the toolbar will send it to the "Default printer" (HP4300 in 172 unless you have changed it). If that printer is busy or has the wrong kind of paper, choose another printer using the File, Print menu. If you are having trouble printing, for instance you issue a Print command and nothing happens, first check to make sure there is paper in the printer, and no error messages are displayed. Do Start, Settings, Printers and right-click the printer in question. It should not say Printer Paused; if it does, click to uncheck, then try Print Test Page. If that still does not work, send your print job to one of the other printers.

Trouble with applications. If you are working with an application and it stops or fails to respond, hit Crtl-Alt-Delete to bring up the Security window, click Task Manager, find the program that is not responding, highlight it, and hit End Task. Usually the program will close, and you will be returned to the desktop. If it is an Office program, it will usually save a recovery file in the C:\Temp folder which will open automatically when you restart. If everything locks up completely, then and only then turn off the power, turn the power on, then log on again. You may have to literally "pull the plug" to re-boot in this situation.

Chemistry Computer Lab help. For routine questions about using this lab "Your professor is the Help Desk",  not the system administrator or Mist D'June-Gussak. For HyperChem, consult the online manual Getting Started that is easily accessible on each workstation under the Start, Programs, Hyper8 menu. 

 
Other troubles. If you have other troubles, take the following steps: (1) contact your class professor, (2) put a sign on the computer with details about the condition, (3) call or send email to Mist D'June-Gussak (see below) to alert them to the problem.

Get a Book! Students with little or no experience using Windows XP or Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc) should obtain how-to books on these subjects, or take appropriate University short courses. Professors: if you require students to use the computer lab, please provide them with instruction on the use of Windows and appropriate software. This will prevent a lot of frustration and will help to insure productive work in the computer lab.

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